Lens blocking device



E. T. DALTON LENS BLOCKING DEVICE July 13, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 11, 1951 iNvE mox ERNEST T. DALTON l 4 l3 MA:TT02NEY mfg 4- J y 1954 E. 'r. DALTON 2,683,342

' LENS BLOCKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ERNEST T. DALTON ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 1954 LENS BLOCKING DEVICE Ernest T. Dalton, Southbridge, Mass., assignor to American Optical Company,

Southbridge,

Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application October 11, 1951, Serial No. 250,851

9 Claims.

This invention relates to lens blocking devices and has particular reference to means and method of supporting a plurality of lens blanks whereby subsequent surfacing operations may be simultaneously and accurately performed there- Prior art devices teach methods of blocking a plurality of lens blanks for simultaneous surfacing by aflixing the lens blanks to the rim of a wheel or similar type of holder by the use of pitch or other suitable cementitious material. However, it has been diflicult to accurately position the lens blanks properly with respect to the center of the wheel or to the'center of the curvatures of the surfaces to be formed thereon, which procedure must be accurately performed since during the subsequent grinding or polishing of the exposed surfaces of the lens blanks the wheel or holder having the lens blanks secured thereto is rotated about its axis and the lens blanks simultaneously engaged by a tool of controlled shape whereby the lens blanks will be provided with surfaces of the desired shape.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide improved means and method'for efiiciently and accurately blocking a plurality of lens blanks whereby they may be supported in predetermined relative positions for subsequent simultaneous surfacing operations.

- Another object is the provision of a device for supporting a plurality of lens blanks in desired prelocated positions and retaining them in said positions through suction introduced by a continuous drawing of air in a direction inwardly of the seats for said lens blanks.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character having means for individually adjusting the lens blanks to desired positions with respect to the center ofthe holder being,

used for supporting the lens blanks during subsequent surfacing operations.

Another object is the provision of a device of the above character wherein the lens blanks are located in encircling relation with the rim of a wheel or similar holder to which they are to be secured,'said devicehaving means for inserting a cementitious material between the holder and lens blanks whereby when the holder is subsequently removed from the device the blanks will be securely fixed in the same relation thereto as they were when prelocated in the device prior to the insertion of the cementitious material.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character which is relatively simple in construction, efficient in operation and economical to manufacture.

2 Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the mold constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the mold formed in accordance with the invention Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the mold showing the cover in raised position; Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the mold;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a holder having lens blanks secured thereto; and

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section showing the air evacuating means and cementitious material dispenser in combination with the mold.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, it is first pointed out that the lens blanks to be blocked are preferably formed by molding or other means to a standard uniform size, shape and thickness. The device embodying the invention comprises a substantially circular base plate I 0 having tapped lugs II formed integral therewith at spaced intervals along its periphery through which bolts I2 or similar connecting means can be inserted for attaching the device to a table I3 or other supporting means therefor. A lower mold half I4 is formed to a substantial ring-like shape and is adapted to be positioned upon the base plate Ill. The base plate I I! is provided with an annular recessed area I 5 in its upper surface adjacent its outer peripheral edge upon which the lower mold half I4 rests and is also provided with a second annular recessed area I6 adjoining the inner periphery of the recessed area I5 forming a shoulder which is engaged by the inner surface of the lower amiular portion I8 of the lower mold half I4 which rests upon the outer annular recessed area I5. The inner wall I8 of the lower mold half I4 is provided with a plurality of half cavities I'I shaped substantially to the contour size and shape of the lower half of the lens blanks and spaced substantially equidistant apart throughout the surface I8.

The upper mold half ZI is shaped similarly to the lower mold half I4 and is adapted to be positioned thereupon, the lower mold half I4 fixedly carrying spaced pins 22 which are adapted to be inserted within openings 23 in the upper mold half 2] for retaining the mold halves I l and 2| in desired assembled relation. The upper mold half 2| is provided with a plurality of half cavities 24 which are of the same shape and dimensional characteristics as the cavities H in the lower mold half I4 and which correlate therewith whereby when the mold halves are in assembled relation the adjoining pairs of half cavities will each form a single cavity of the complete contour shape and size of the lens blank to be blocked. The inner wall of the upper mold half 2| is shaped similar to the shape of the inner wall N3 of the lower mold half 14 and is adapted to be positioned against the shoulder formed by an annular recess 26 in the lewersurface of a cover 2?. Opposed annular recesses I6 and 23 are formed respectively in'the base plate l9 and cover 21! inwardly of the recesses f5. and 26 so that when the device is assembled grooves 20 and 29 (Fig. 4) are provided adjacent each cavity I! and 24. The cover 21 is hinged as at 30 to the upper mold half 2 I.

Each of the cavities 24 and I! of the respective upper and. lowermold halves 2.1 and [4 have the ends of adjusting: pins3l projecting therein (Figs. 2,. 3i and 4'), the. pins being threadedly mounted through the material of the mold halves. Zls and M; from the. outer peripheral surfaces and being of a predetermined controlled length whereby lenses positioned against the pins 3| will be.

spaced slightly from the. inner walls of. the cavities.

Means is provided in the device for permitting circulation of: airfrom the. cavities 2.4'l 1: through the base plate. ill: and comprises an opening. 32 formed in the rear-wall of each of the cavities H; and communicat ng with, vertical openings 33 provided in the base plate I'll, which openings 33. in turn. communicate with an enlarged opening 24' in the.- table- 33.. Thusair' may be drawn from the cavities. 11; as. indicated by the arrows in. Fig. 4 through the respective openings 32, 33. and 34 by any; suitable. means. such. as. a. fan 48 (Big; 6). In using. the: device a lens blank. 35 is inserted in cam of the half cavities; 24 and. H with its convex surface. which isgto lie-subsequently groundor polished being; positioned aga nstthe ends of the pins; 31 and its lower edge. resting. onthe: bot-- tom wall. ot. the half cavity ll as: shown. in Fig.4. The pins 3| are preferably so adjustedlthat the peripheral; edges of the lens blanks 35; will extend.

slightlybeyond. the inner surfaces of the portions l8- and 2-8 of the respective. mold halves; l4 and 2! (Fig. 4.). The lens blankswill bev held against r the pin 3! by a partial vacuum created by the sucking action. of. airdescribed above. After loeating the lens. blanks. in the cavities a. holder 36' is inserted within the. moldhalves: the holder" 36; preferabl being. in the formv of a wheelzhaving a hub portion 31 which is adapted. tobe; mounted, over a centrally disposed locating pin.

33 carried by the base plate H): and having anannula-rrim portion 39.- which is attached to; the; hub by means such as spokes 36:. The holder-36;

is, of course, inserted upon the locating pin 38.

when, the cover 21 is in raised position, after which the cover is lowered intoclosed relation with the upper mold half 21 whereupon the innor annular surface area M. of the cover 251 lying;

immediately inwardly of the annular recess 28 will rest upon the upper; edge'of therimt 39; the lower: edge oftherim 39 bein positioned upon the surface i-aof. the base plate I'll. Thus the. holder. 36 is securely retained indesiredposition in the device-with the lensblanks 35 located in spacedencirclingrelation therewith, the lens blanks 35 all; being located at a, predetermined controlled distance from the center of the holder 3.6. It. is

particularly pointedout that due. tothe fact-that:

the holder 36 has a relatively intimate fit with the pin 38 and is adapted to seat relatively intimately with the surface [9, and that the cavity i'L-Zfl is axially aligned with the horizontal center line of the rim of the holder 36 whereby the lens blanks 36, when positioned in said cavities and in engagement with the pins therein, Will automatically be aligned with-the holder in this meridian, it beingundersto'o'd of course that the pins are properly adjusted to bring about this result as well as to position the lens blanks in proper relation with the center of rotation of the holder during the actual abrading.

The cover 2'! is provided with a boss 42 formed on its upper surface, the boss 42 having a bore 43 therethrough' which communicates with the space'betweenithezlensblanks 35 and the adjacent surface of the rim 39 of the holder 36. Through this opening 43 a cementitious material 44 such as pitch or other suitable adhesive can be inserted by: meansof. dispenser 49.: Thetpit'ch M..is preferably forced through the opening in thick liquid form whereupon it'will' flow around the 11111135 of the holder 31%;. The outer surface of the rim.- 39 is provided". with a plurality of small notches, grooves or similar recesses 45 whereby the pitch will more securely adhere to the holder 36.. The pitch. 411' will. also flow into the grooves 213 and. 2:9 and thus will enclose entirely'the exposed portions of the edges of th-elens blanks 35'. This. will aid in. more. securely retaining the blanks on the. holder. Upon. subsequently allowing. the pitch to set: it will become hard: Then. the cover 2:! is raisedand. the uppermold half H is removed and the holder 3.6. then lifted oil; the locating pin 38. The. lens blanks: 35 willbe. secured: to the holder BEbv the. pitch 44; as: shown'in Fig. 5,. theblanks; each being retained. on the holder in desiredurelation with respect to the. center; of" the holder 36.. Thus the holder 33 may. be subsequently attached to a. grinding oripolishing machine and: when to.- tated' about its center the: blanks, when engaged by a finishing tool, will be surfaced asdesired.

A. pair of handles ti?- may be secured to. opposite sides. ofthe: upper mold half 2i whereby it may be easily: removed from its assembled relation with the lowermold half IA, and aha'ndle 41 may be provided on-or attached tovthe cover 21':

as shown in Figs. I and 3f for'easeinraising and lowering the cover during use of the device.

"From the foregoing it will-ibe seen that eflicien-t It will be apparent, however, that-many changes.

may be made in the details of construction. and arrangement of parts as well: as in the method shown'anjd described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying'claims'. Therefore; it is tube under-- stood that all matter set forth in the specification. or shown in; the accompanying; drawing is to'beinterpreted as. illustrative; andnot in avlimiting; sense;

I claim:-

1;.A1lens blocking device comprising a. frame. havinga. circular-opening therein, said. framebeing:provided:withlaplurality of. spaced lens-blank receiving; recesses in the inner wall of the opening andv adjustable spacer means for engaging-the.

rear surface of lens blanksi when. positioned in.

holder; removably positioned; within said opening: and having a rim portion thereofr pcsitionedizr having a circular opening therein,jsaid frame being provided with a plurality of spaced lensblank-receiving recesses'in the inner wall of the opening, pin-likemembers protruding from the innerwalls of said recesses for engagement with lens blanks when positioned in said recesses to locate the lens blanks, in spaced relation with the inner walls of said recesses and in predetermined spaced relationiwith the center of said opening, said opening bein of asize tolpermit a holder to be inserted, within said opening and having a rim portion thereof positioned in spaced relation with said lens blanks when so positioned in said recesses, and means for inserting a cementitious material in said opening between said rim portion of the holder and said lens blanks 'whenso positioned, whereby said blanks may be secured to said holder.

3. A lens blocking device comprising a frame having a circular opening therein, said frame being provided with a plurality of spaced lensblank-receiving recesses, in the inner wall of the opening, pin-like members protruding from the inner wallsof said recesses for engagement with lens blanks whenpositioned in said recesses to locate the lens blanks in spaced relation with the inner Walls of said recesses and in predetermined spaced relation with the center of said opening, means for creatinga partial vacuum in the space between said lens blanks and inner wallsiof said recesses when the lens blanks are so positioned for retaining said lens blanks within said recesses, said opening being of a size to permit a' holder to be inserted within said opening with a rim portion thereof positioned in spaced relation with the lens'blanks when positioned in said recesses, and means for inserting a cementitious material in said opening between said rim portion of the holder and said lens blanks when so positioned whereby said blanks may be secured to said holder.

4. A lens blocking device comprising a frame havin a circular opening therein, said frame bein provided with a plurality of spaced lensblank-receiving recesses in the inner wall of the opening, pin-like members protrudingfrom the inner walls of said recesses for engagement with lens blanks when positioned in said recesses to locate the lens blanks in spaced relation with the inner walls of said recesses and in predetermined spaced relation with the center of said opening, means for creating a partial vacuum in the space between said lens blanks and inner Walls of said recesses when the lens blanks are so positioned for retaining said lens blanks within said recesses, said opening being of a size to permit a holder to be inserted within said opening with a rim portion thereof positioned in spaced relation with the lens blanks when positioned in said recesses, means carried by said frame for retainin said holder in predetermined position in said opening, and means for inserting a cementitious material in said opening between said rim portion of the holder and said lens blanks when so positioned whereby said blanks may be secured to said holder.

5. A lens blocking device comprising a base, a first frame on said base having a circular opening therein and having a plurality of substan tially semi-circular shaped recesses in the inner wall of the opening adjacent its edge remote from said base, a second frame shaped to abut upon said first frame and having a circular opening therein similar to the opening in said first frame, said second frame having a plurality of substantially semi-circular shaped recesses in the inner wall of the openin therein adjacent its edge abutting said first frame, means for connecting said frames together whereby said recesses in the respective frames will be aligned to form a plurality of substantially circular shaped lens-blankreceiving cavities, said openings being of a size to permit a holder to be inserted within the openings in said frames with a rim portion thereof positioned in spaced relation with the lens blanks when positioned in said cavities, a cap carried by said second frame having a portion to overlie the space between the lens blanks and the rim portion of the holder when positioned within said device, and a port in said cap communicatin with said space for inserting a cementitious material between said rim portion of the holder and said lens blanks when so positioned whereby said blanks may be secured to said holder.

6. A lens blocking device comprising a base, a first frame on said base having a circular opening therein and having a plurality of substantially semi-circular shaped recesses in the inner wall of the opening adjacent its edge remote fromsaid base, a second frame shaped to abut upon said first frame and having a circular opening therein similar to the opening in said first frame, said second frame having a plurality of substantially semi-circular shaped recesses in the inner wall of the opening therein adjacent its edge abutting said first frame, means for connecting said frames together whereby the circular openings in the frames will be concentric and whereby said recesses in the respective frames will be aligned to form a plurality of substantially circular shaped lens-blank-receiving cavities, pin-like members protruding from the inner walls of said recesses for engagement with lens blanks when positioned in said cavities for spacing said lens blanks in spaced relation with said inner walls of the recesses and in predetermined spaced relation with the center of said concentric openings in the frames, said openings being of a size to permit a holder to be inserted within the openings in said frames with a rim portion thereof positioned in spaced relation with the lens blanks when positioned in said cavities, and means for inserting a cementitious material in said opening between said rim portion of the holder and said lens blanks when so positioned whereby said blanks may be secured to said holder.

7. A lens blocking device comprising a base, a first frame on said base having a circular opening therein and having a plurality of substantially semi-circular shaped recesses in the inner wall of the opening adjacent its edge remote from said base, a second frame shaped to abut upon said first frame and having a circular opening therein similar to the openin in said first frame, said second frame having a plurality of substantially semi-circular shaped recesses in the inner wall of the opeining therein adjacent its edge abutting said first frame, means for connecting said frames together whereby the circular openings in the frames will be concentric and whereby said recesses in the respective frames will be aligned to form a plurality of substantially circular shaped lens-blank-receiving cavities, pinings .in' the frames, ports in-said first frame-come municating with saidrecesses.towhicheirievacue atingr; means "may be; connected for creating as partial vacuum in the space;betweennthewlens blanks;andthe.ainner walls of. the recesses when: the lens ibla'nks are so positioned; for retainingsaid ilensablanks. within. said cavities, said 0136f}? ings=being ofxa sizetmperrnit a holderito be.

sertediwithin-the openings; in said frames. with.

airimiportion' thereof positioned in spacedzrela-z tioniwith-said lens blanks when positioned'in said cavities whereby.cementitiousimaterial be inserted in saidopening' between said rim por tionxofrtheholder andsaid lensblanks to secure the blanks :to said holder.

8.-A-lenslbloeking device :cornprising a base, a

first frame on said base havinga circular opening therein and havingaplurality of substantially:

semi-circular shaped recesses in the inner wall of the opening' adjacent its edge remote from said base; asecond frameshaped to abut upon said first frame and having a'circular openingtherein. similar-to the opening in'said first frame; said secondjramezhaving a plurality of substantially semi-circular shaped recesses in the inner wall'of the. opening. therein adjacent its edge abutting said first frame, means; for connecting said frames together whereby the circular openings in thezframeswill be concentric and: whereby said recesses in the respective frames will. be aligned to form .a plurality of substantially circular shapedlens-blank-receiving. cavities, pin-like membersprotruding from the inner walls of said recesses forengagement with the. lens blanks when positioned in said cavities for spacing said lens blanks spaced relation with saidinner walls of the. recesses and in: predetermined spaced relationzwithithe center of said concentric-open ings in the frames; means for creating 1 a partial vacuumdn'the space between the lens blanks and the innerwalls ofiithe recesses-when the-lens blanks are so positioned for retaining said lensblanks within said cavities, locatin'gi-means carriedbs said baseand adapted to extend into the circular openingzin-said first frame to'engage a holder adaptedto beinserted'within the openings in said'framessaid holder when so-inserted "havinga rim portion thereof-positioned: in spacedfrelationzwith the lens blanks when po-- sitioned in said cavities; and means: for insert ingla" cementitious material in said'opening betweenfsaid .rim. portion of the holder and'said' lens.-.blanks.- when 1 so positioned whereby said blanksmay besecured'to said holder.

9.- A'"le'ns blocking device comprising a'fra-me having .a. circular opening therein," said'frame beinglprovidedwith alplurality of spaced lens-- blankereoeiving recesses in the inner wall of the opening each "shaped substantially to the-contour size-.andshapeof a lens blank-and spacer means locatedwithinsaid recesses and protrud ing from a rear wall thereof for engaging the lens iblanks when positioned'therein whereby-they may be retainedlin the respective recesses inpredet-ermined spaced relation with: the center of the opening, said opening-being ofa size to permit .a' holder to beiinserted within said opening and having its: rimrportion positioned in spacedtre'lation with the lens blanks when so retained in therecesses, wh'ereby-cementitious materialmay be inserted-tin the space between the lensblanksiand rim vportion of the liolder and so be isecuredlto .the holder."

References Cited-ihr the file of:::this :patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number v Name Date 1,355,211. Biigbee Oct. l2,-1920- 2,007,366; Clement July 9, 1935 2,5.09;211; Clement May,30, 1950 

